Waistband



June 5, 1928. 1,672,017 1 g. e. WRIGHT WAIST BAND Filed Aug. 25, 1927 INVENTOR 6/4 6. hwy/2f ATTORNEY Patented J une 5, 192 8.

CLAIR G. WRIGHT, OF CITY, MISSOURI. V

' WAISTBAND.

Application filed August 25, 1927. Serial No. 215,427.

M'yinvention relatesto bands for garments, and more particularly. to the waist bands of track pants, underwear, pajamas,

and similar garments. The objects of the invention are to provide elasticity and adjustability, to provide features that are protective tothe person wearing the garment and to the elements of thedevice, and to eliminate the cutting of a dart from a band portion of a garment in producing fullness of the garment.

The objects are accomplished by novel structure that .will be described in detail withreferences to the accompanying drawings wherein:

'Fig. l is a perspective view of an athletic garment having a waist band constructed in I accordance with my invention Fig. 2 is a cross section of a portion of a waist band in which my invention is embodied.

Fig. is a detailed fragmentary perspective view of an elastic element,a part of a textile cover member being broken away the better to disclose the structure. v

Referring in detail to the drawings 1 designates a pair of track pants, the waist band 2 of which is constructed of the a hem in the upper edge of the garment produced by the annular stitches 3. 'Vertical plaits 4 are provided in the belt or band area, and preferably in side positions on the garment, by gathering the material at a position where a group of plaits is to be installed and attaching an elastic element 5 to the material by rows of vertical stitching 6. The elastic element is permitted to extend in length,

wearer, and provides a smooth surface, pro-v tectingthe body from the discomfort of the folds or corrugations of the plaits.

The elastic element 5 comprises preferably a strip of gum rubber 7, and a strip of knitted fabric 8, the knitted strip being equal S5 in length to the rubber strip, and slightly less in width. The knitted strip is disposed material of the pants and consists chiefly of them, they may be pressed flat to adjacent the rubber strip with its wales 9 transversely arranged thereto and is attached to the rubber strip by means of edge stitching 10, to provide for stretching of the knitted fabric along the face of therubberstrip, the threads of the stitch being caught in spaced and adjacent portions of the knittedfabric between the projecting wales, or in similar manner, so that the wales are not prevented from expansion. The knitted strip is provided to protect the body of the wearer from the direct contact of the rubber,

and also to protect the rubber strip from deteriorating influences, such asthe heat-and perspiration. of the body. The textile strip also provides a smooth and unwrinkled surface for contact with the person of the wearer under all conditions of extension or contraction of the elastic element of the band.

An additional co-operating element is provided in a tape 11 for adjusting the length of the band, the tape being inserted between the garment material and the elastic element 5 and secured to the band by one of the lines of stitching 6; and the eyelets 12 constructed in the'device by perforating adjacent portions of the garment hem and the elastic element, and binding each pair of aligned openings to form an eyelet. Two or more vertically disposed eyelets may serve as means, in place of stitching 6, to attach the inner portion of a plait to the elastic element. Ends of the tape may be inserted into selected eyelets to form loops or drawstrings for puckering and reducing the length of the band. The adjusting means is particularly serviceable when use has StretchedJthe rubber, and the excess material of the plaits has been extended. When the plaits are folded; before use has extended provide a relatively smooth exterior surface.

The device eliminates the necessity for a dart in the belt portion and adjacent thereto, by providing forthe puckering or gathering of'the material; and, by means of the novel elastic element, obviating the usual disadvantages of gathers or plaits. The gathers orplaits are feasible in the band device shown, since they are used in the service'of the elastic element, and since a protective element is provided for positioning over puckered portions of the band.

- ,What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In a garment, a waist band comprising means forming vertical plaits in the garment material and an elastic element provided with a strip of knitted fabric attached thereto, the wales of said knitted strip disposed vertically, and the elastic element secured to the garment by the means that form said plaits.

2; In a garment, a band comprising a plaited portion of the garment and an elastic tached to. said extensible portion,'eyelets en-.

gaging the elastic element and the extensible portion and providing openings therethrough, and a tape having its median portion secured to said waist at a spaced position from said eyelets for engagement with selected eyelets to reduce the length of the band.

4. A band device for a garment, compris band comprising an extensible ing a portion of the garment band provided with transverse plaits, an elastic member attached to said plaited portion, said plaits being folded for reception of said elastic member, stitching coincidentally producing said plaits and attaching the elastic member to said portion, and a strip of knitted fabric attached to the elastic member by stitches engaging aligned edges of the member and the strip, said fabric strip having wales disposed parallel to said plaits.

5. A band device for a garment comprising a portion of the garment band provided with transverse plaits, an elastic member attached to said plaited portion, stitching coincidentally producing said plaits and attaching the elastic member to said portion, and a strip of knitted fabric laid on the elastic member and attachedthereto by tacking engaging aligned edges of the member and the strip, said fabric strip having wales disposed parallel to said p aits, and said fabric strip positioned on the opposite side of the elastic member from the position of said plaits. I

In testimony ,Whereof I aflix my signature.

CLAIR G. WRIGHT. 

